Our History

Rust-Oleum's History

Solving challenges is the very foundation of who we are. After all, in the beginning, our founder, sea captain Robert Fergusson, didn’t particularly care about paint. He just wanted to keep his ship intact. That’s why, when he noticed that an accidental splash of fish oil had stopped the relentless spread of corrosion on his rusty metal deck, he immediately recognized it for what it was: A valuable solution.

The same passion that drove the Captain to spend his next few years creating the world’s first rust-preventative paint still drives us today. When we see a problem, we work diligently until we’ve perfected a solution—which has led to some of the most cutting-edge, durable and innovative products in the industry.

If you’ve got a surface you need to protect or a look you want to transform, you’ve come to the right place. We have a coating for every challenge.

Welcome to Rust-Oleum, home of trusted quality—and powerful solutions—since 1921.

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